1 Answers
Disinformation attacks are the intentional dissemination of false information, with an end goal of misleading, confusing, or manipulating an audience. Disinformation attacks may be executed by state or non-state actors to influence domestic or foreign populations. These attacks are commonly employed to reshape attitudes and beliefs, drive a particular agenda, or elicit certain actions out of a target audience.
Disinformation attacks can be employed through traditional media outlets, such as state-sponsored TV channels and radios. However, disinformation attacks have become increasingly widespread and potent with the advent of social media. Digital tools such as bots, algorithms, and AI technology are leveraged to spread and amplify disinformation and micro-target populations on online platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Due to their nature, disinformation attacks have been called to be formally classified as an actual cyber threat by advocates.
Disinformation attacks can pose threats to democracy in online spaces, the integrity of electoral processes such as the 2016 United States presidential election, and national security in general.
Defense measures include machine learning applications that can flag disinformation on platforms, fact-checking and algorithmic adjustment systems, and collaboration between private social media companies and governments in creating solutions and sharing key information. Educational programs are also being developed to teach people how to better discern between facts and disinformation online.